Using Drone Technology to Promote Soil Health Through Cover Crop Management

Sustainable systems such as precision crop management and cover cropping are not always the primary practices that are employed by farmers in a state with high land values and the need to have profit to sustain a farm business. Additionally, purchasing expensive seeding equipment for cover crop planting may not be accessible for small famers Drones can be a viable option for many farmers, especially when considering the small-scale agricultural ventures typical in New Jersey. Interest in new technologies, like drones, as tools for cost-efficient implementation of practices has increased in recent years. For example, in 2024, an estimated 2,000 acres are being managed using drone technology primarily for integrated pest management including spraying.  The costs associated with drone applications indicate the potential for significant cost-savings when compared to traditional custom applications.  This fact is even more pronounced when small producers who traditionally would not farm enough acres to justify a custom application making such applications both expensive and does not coincide with integrated pest management timing due to larger farms being a priority for custom applicators. Although the interest among producers is rising, farmers need access to education and training to effectively incorporate these technologies into their operations.  In a study conducted in Africa McCarthy, et. al) the results of farmer surveys indicated that 70% of mainly persistence farmers reported an interest in employing drone technologies including mapping, 70% reported an interest in using drones for crop monitoring and 50% expressed interest in using drones for field planning.  Such interest has also been expressed by USDA/NRCS and this technology could result in improved field mapping, planting report and other best management practices by rapidly evaluating fields and identifying issues. Demonstrations and education about employing drones for planting and monitoring cover crop systems for improvement of soil health will help expand the use of this new technology on small farms. These technologies can maximize the efficiency of crop management and monitoring.  McCarthy, (2023) found similar results with the most observed issues identified by farmers from the drone images were related to land management, including crop management and rotation (19 farms), soil erosion/run-off (16 farms), water stress (5 farms), and nutrient deficiencies (3 farms). These findings are similar to the main agricultural issues in New Jersey and match closely with NRCS and other TSP programmatic efforts.In addition, drones may have less environmental impact for field applications compared to traditional field equipment, such as less carbon emissions and reduced soil compaction making them a more sustainable option. Despite the evidence that drones and new technologies can maximize sustainability, access to new technologies are often prohibitive for underserved, small and beginning farmers. The team has access to drone technologies through a local community college partnership to help this community experience the potential benefits of new technologies with minimum economic risk to these producers.  By making producers aware of the production costs of using drones, the regulations associated with drones in agriculture, and by providing access to services and educational resources available, this project will inform service providers with the basic principles of this technology. In addition, done technologies can further enhance the efficient delivery of education and services provided by technical service providers.  In order to facilitate this delivery TSP’s need to be educated and provided with the opportunity to become licensed in order to deliver drone-based services to their clientele.

To address the need to provide education and training to the farmer community related to cover-cropping systems and drone technologies, the team will utilize its experience in cropping systems and drone agricultural operations, combined with an innovative cooperative with the Warren Community College drone technology program to educate and license technical service providers to operate and utilize drones as a component of their service to the agricultural community.  Service providers such as extension educators, NRCS staff, crop consultants, and conservation groups provide various services to the agricultural community.  These providers have demonstrated an interest through personal communications, participation in Extension programs and through other communications, in drone technologies and their application in agriculture. The project team will engage these participants through various means including one-on-one consultations, educational webinars, podcasts and other educational methods. The team will also conduct field demonstrations for service providers and farmers to demonstrate the effective use of drone technologies to enhance agricultural sustainability, crop monitoring and soil health. These programs will focus on both fall and spring planted cover crops demonstrated at multiple sites. The programs and research projects will be designed primarily by the project team. Technical service providers participants with expertise in soil health (NRCS etc.), agricultural producers and technical experts in drone technologies (Warren County College drone program etc.) will be consulted throughout the project to ensure their needs are being addressed. Although participants will not be compensated, students participating in the Warren County drone program will have the opportunity to participate in real-world research and will have the opportunity to participate in a paid part-time summer employment and will be assigned to one of the projects being conducted at the research farm. Selected students will conduct all aspects of the project and will demonstrate drone technology to the TSP participants.  This will provide an opportunity for students to have access to Rutgers academic programming and research while enhancing their opportunity for success in agriculture through real world applications of their training.  Farmers will be invited to a series of educational demonstrations to learn the applicability of these technologies for a variety of cropping systems and to ensure that farmers are made aware of the services that are available through the participating service providers.  This engagement will aim to allow interaction between drone experts, crop scientist, TSP’s and the agricultural community.  McCarthy also reported that the main reason reported for skepticism from small producers was limited education and confusion regarding both the technology and regulations for using drones in agriculture. As this technology advances and continues to be more economically viable, trained operators and practitioners will enhance the availability and effectiveness of drone-use in agriculture.

Stephen Komar, PI komar@njaes.rutgers.edu Co-Coordinator for NESARE State PDP Program

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County 130 Morris Turnpike

Newton, NJ 07860-4914

973-984-3040

NJ State PDP Co-Coordinator, responsible for providing SARE promotion, education, and outreach. Will establish demonstration trials for cover crops using drones at two Rutgers research farms. Coordinate the partnership with Warren County Community College Drone Program to utilize their drone equipment for the project. Coordinate an internship with an undergraduate student in the WCCC Drone Program to conduct fly- overs for cover crop monitoring. Stephen Komar will co-develop assessment tools for the project.  Will coordinate project reporting for SARE.  Komar has been utilizing drones and other technologies for various agricultural research projects for the past 4 years and has established a partnership with both private and academic partners with expertise in drone applications in agriculture.

Michelle Infante-Casella, Co-PI minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu Co-Coordinator for NESARE State PDP Program

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County Shady Lane Complex

254 County House Rd.

Clarksboro, NJ 08020-1395

856-224-8040

NJ State PDP Co-Coordinator, responsible for providing SARE promotion, education, and outreach. Infante-Casella will co-develop assessment tools for the project. She will also co-coordinate in person field days, webinars, and dissemination of educational materials. Infante-Casella will assist with recruitment primarily in the southern part of New Jersey and will assist with coordinating ASPs who serve mainly fruit and vegetable producers.

William Bamka, Cooperator bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu

Agricultural Agent specializing in field crops, forages, pastures, agricultural marketing and other agricultural issues.

Cooperative Extension of Burlington County Westampton, NJ 08060-3826

609-265-5050

William is an Agricultural Agent with 29-years of experience working with agricultural service providers and farmers, primarily with field crops. He will work to assist in coordinating field demonstrations, provide presentations on webinar events, and help develop and conduct evaluations for the project. Bamka will assist with recruitment primarily in the central and southern part of New Jersey and will assist with coordinating ASPs who serve commercial field crop producers.

Adam Kyle, Cooperator akyle@warren.edu

Warren Community College 445 Marshall St. Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

Adam Kyle is Warren County Community College's teaching administrator for precision agriculture.   He is working to educate farmers and agriculture experts on the benefits of drones and robotics for agricultural applications.  With Warren, Adam has been able to secure many FAA waivers, allowing him to apply pesticides via drone, as well as fly multiple spraying drones at once. Adam will serve as the flight manager for student projects and will teach the FAA 107 drone licensing program for participants